Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-07-19
shorlcr EEours Of Aahor.

Shorter Hours OF labor.
i a valued friend sends us a plea in behalf
of shorter hours of labor, drawn from what
| he saw in recent trip 10 the country. His
! friend, whom he visited, rose at half-past
four o'clock in order that he might breakfast
in time for the train that brought him to the
/ city. Our friend also tried the experiment
| for himself and when he reached the train
he found the cars nearly filled with those
who were following the same rule. He
asked number of them why they lived so
| far from their places Of business and they all
made like answer: I'm order that the wife
and childreu-the latter especially-may
have better air. He closes with tie state.
ment that 'tteae men thus add two hours Il
day TO their labor for the sake of their
children"
We know that many clerks. statesmen,
porters, and persons engaged otherwise in
daily labor do rent or purchase little homes
in the country for the sake of their families,
! most of whom are doubtless better off in a
rural dwelling than they would be in one of
equal cost il the city. But we do not think
that these persons add two hours to the
length of their days work. They are sepa-
rated Il little longer from their families, but
the time spent in travelling by boat or car
to and from their homes is not devoted to
wasting toll Nor is the period Of separa-
ton greatly increased. 1t is impossible in q
great city for every one 10 live within sight
of his workshop or place of employment.
Those who work at this end of the city and
live at the other end, or in Brooklyn or Jer.
sey City, spend nearly as much time III
reaching the scene of their labors IS those
who take n fast train for a rural district.
Before the elevated road was finished the
uptown man OF business always allowed
from forty TO fifty minutes each way between
his house and his office or shop.
No one can see an active, stirring man
rising at hslfpast four o'clock, eating his
breakfast i'll haste, going resolutely to his
work, putting ia ten or twelve hours Of
faithful toll, and returning home late at
night with the beaded sweat scarce wiped
from his brow, without q feeling ofproiound
sympathy for him, and admiring the pluck
and self denial which enables him to do this
the year round for the sake of those dear to
him. Bat it is not q case to excite our pity.
The worker who eats the bread OF indepen-
dence and feeds those he loves in the sweat
of his face without one murmuring thought,
is more to be envied than pitied. The wea-
ry limbs, the blistered hands, the aching
sinews that come from honest toll are not
the sore evils of life. They DO not eat into
the spirits and they contribute to an easy
conscience and most refreshing sleep.
The man who by his circumstances is not
compelled to toll, who NAV lie in bed until
midday if he chooses, WHO can come and go
at such hours as suit him, is not the favored
of fortune for whom the ecstacies of life are
especially reserved Nor does he have
more peaceful rest nor more comfort in his
home, nor fonder relations with his child
ren, than our correspondents friend, who
kissed his little ones goodbye as they lay
asleep in the early twilight OF that morning
in the country, and excited such hearty
commiseration from his heart and pen. The
wife whose price, according 30 the sacred
historian, was so star above rubies," rose
from her couch while it was yet night, gave
meat to her household, spent the day at the
spindle or distaf, had means to distribute
i widely to the poor and needy, and did moi
! consider her lot q distressing hardship on
I account of her incessant activity and hel
own work sang her praises in the gates o.
the city.
Worry, anxiety vexation, undue care
and all that may be comprised in the wore
labor" will wear upon any man, but
good honest work never hurt anybody, and
any one who is afraid of ii, and shrinks from
it, or despises it, and would not put his hanc
10 any useful employment if necessity %
not compel him to do it, has no fit place il
this worlds economy.
All that tends to cheaper production adds
10 the comfort of the race. The labor-sav
ing machines will in time give daily meat tc
a whole people who tasted such fare only a;
a dainty when everything was wrought by
hand But to shorten the hours of work is
to increase the cost Of production, and tc
deprive persons of moderate earnings o.
many things they would otherwise enjoy
The world wants better work and more o
it before the race will be it for the millen
nium.-N Y. Journal Of Commerce.